Chapter Four

(London, 1585…)

Alan opened the TARDIS door and glanced out. They were in a narrow alley between two large houses.

"Looks like London to me," he said to Rose and Jenny.

They stepped outside and closed the door. They watched while the TARDIS disguised itself as several stacked up cages of clucking chickens.

"Weird," Rose said. "This will definitely take some getting used to since the Doctor's TARDIS never does this."

"Well, I think we'll be alright as long as someone doesn't think about nicking some chickens," Alan said. "But come now, my wife and niece, and let's go find this missing Tulio."

They walked out of the alleyway. It was nighttime and not many people were on the streets. The three of them stood by the alley looking around.

"So, now what?" Rose said. "James Sutton is a pretty common name, I'm bettin'."

"Patience, my poppet," Alan said, patting her on the head. "The solution usually presents itself, you know."

They waited for a couple of minutes.

"Yup, any minute now the solution will present itself," Alan said, looking around.

"If you're expecting James to just drop out of the sky into our laps, I got news for ya," Rose said.

They jumped back when someone dumped feces from a window up above them.

"Well, something is dropping from the sky at any rate," Alan said, while the women held their noses. "Same thing happened to Brother and Martha. Soooo, I think we should move on before the next bucketful finds its mark. Come along."

They walked off down the road while Alan kept his eyes skyward looking for any hint someone was about to dump feces out their window.

"Where do people go here?" Jenny said. "Surely they had places where Tulio might have gone."

Alan stopped and thought.

"I suppose we could go find the local pub and ask there," he said, shrugging.

"Sounds as good a plan as any," Rose replied.

"Come on, to the pub!" Alan said. "Wherever that might be…but sally forth and we'll find it!"

They walked down the street ignoring the shocked looks the others were giving their clothing. On the way there, they suddenly heard a woman's faint screams coming from a side street. They looked at each other and took off in the direction of it.

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When they finally found the source of the screams, it was coming from a small house. Alan pulled out his sonic screwdriver, unlocked the door and jerked it open. They noticed a three year old girl crying just inside the room. Alan knelt down to her.

"Hey, what's going on?" he said to her while Jenny and Rose bent over his shoulder.

They heard the woman scream and jerked their heads up.

"Starlight, take care of her," Alan said to Rose while he stood up and went past her.

He slowly made his way through the darkened house following the screams. He went up the stairs and found a bedroom with the door ajar. Inside a woman was lying on the bed in agony. Alan looked inside and finding no one else there, quickly came in.

"It's alright, I'm Alan, what's wrong?" he said to her.

She screamed while she pointed down at her crotch. Alan uncovered her and noticed she was giving birth. He cursed and quickly thought to the women to come and help. Rose came inside and saw what was happening. Alan called to Jenny to take care of the toddler while they worked to try to get her stabilized. Alan glanced at the woman and cursed when he noticed the birth was breech and she was dying. Frantically both of them worked to get the baby turned around inside her and get it out before they lost both of them. Meanwhile, Jenny stood nearby consoling the little child who was crying loudly. With his hand up inside her, Alan managed to get the child turned around in the womb so its head was facing outwards.

"Okay, miss, I need you to push for me, can you do that?" Alan said to her.

Rose ran to the head of the bed and helped her sit up while the woman screamed and pushed. Alan encouraged her but he could tell she was fading fast. He noticed the head was crowning and called to her to push again. Somehow finding the strength, the woman pushed two more times and Alan was able to get the child out. Rose sat by the woman's head holding her while she gasped and panted. Alan glanced at the baby and stood up with it in his arms.

"It's a girl," he said to the mother. "Is there a father somewhere?"

The woman gasped and panted while she shook her head. Rose and Alan both noticed her dying but not knowing what to do they could only look on in silent helplessness while she expired in front of them.

"Blast," Alan said, while Rose closed her eyes in anguish.

Jenny came over holding the little girl in her arms. They stared down sadly at her body.

"Now what?" Jenny said to Alan.

Alan glanced at the baby and the toddler.

"We need to take these two back to the TARDIS. Bring the TARDIS in here and get this woman's body. We can give her a proper cremation since she said there wasn't a father. I'm not gonna let her just lie here until someone smells her. Come on. Let's get these two to safety then.

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After getting them back in the TARDIS, Alan and Rose jumped in the shower while Jenny took care of the children in the living room. The TARDIS supplied her with a bottle of warm milk and baby blanket and Jenny wrapped the child up while she held her in her arms and fed her. The little girl stood nearby watching her with wide eyes. Jenny smiled at her. She was about two feet tall with shoulder length brown hair, a chubby face and bright blue eyes. She was wearing a small white dress and old white shoes.

"What's your name, sweetie?" Jenny asked her.

The little girl rocked back and forth on her heels while she remained silent.

"Don't worry, we'll sort everything out. My aunt and uncle are wonderful, you'll love them," Jenny said to her.

She looked up when Alan and Rose came into the room, clean and wearing fresh clothes. Alan walked over to her and put his hand on the toddler's head.

"Have we found out this one's name yet?" he said to her.

Jenny shook her head.

"She won't speak, I think she's too scared," Jenny replied.

Alan knelt down next to her and smiled.

"Hi, I'm Alan and this is Rose and Jenny. What's your name?"

The little girl stared at him with wide eyes. Alan had a thought and put his fingers against her temples. He closed his eyes and searched through her memories for a moment before taking his hands away.

"Elizabeth Marie Johnston?" he said to her. "That's a pretty name, Elizabeth."

He glanced up at Rose.

"I didn't see any father in her memories. I didn't see anyone except her and her mum. I have a feeling they're now orphans."

"So what do we do?" Rose said.

Alan sighed.

"I don't wanna throw them in an orphanage. Not at this point in history. At least do what Brother did and take them back to the twenty first century where it'll be a bit more humane for them."

He smiled at Elizabeth who was staring at him silently and he rubbed her cheek.

"Nah, she's too beautiful. She and her sister need to be taken where they can have a better life," he said.

He glanced at the baby in Jenny's arms.

"I s'pose we ought to name this one as well. Can't go around calling her It or She," he said. "Any thoughts from either of you?"

Rose sat down next to the baby and smile while it drank the milk. She put her hand on the child's head.

"She's so beautiful," Rose whispered. "Just like her sister. A sweet little angel."

Jenny looked at her.

"Angel? How 'bout that? It's what Dad calls me all the time," she said to her.

Rose nodded.

"Yeah, call her Angel, I like that," she said.

"Okay, how 'bout a middle name then?" Alan said.

They thought. Rose giggled.

"Rain, Angel Rain, I'll let Sis have the honor," Rose said.

Alan grinned.

"Angel Rain Johnston, I like it. Okay, so now we have to figure out how to take care of them while we're here. I guess we can go in shifts. Two of us go out and hunt for Tulio while one stays behind and minds them?"

They nodded.

"In the meantime, let's get Angel and Elizabeth cleaned up and dressed so they can have a nap. Then, we'll land the TARDIS inside their house so we don't have to carry their mum along the street.

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Once Angel and Elizabeth had baths and were dressed in a nightgown and a sleeper, they led them to a bedroom the TARDIS fixed up for them. Rose laid Angel in a crib while Alan led Elizabeth over to the little child's bed. He helped her get in, pulled the covers up and knelt down beside her.

"Don't worry, you're in good hands now," he said to her. "We're taking care of you and your sister, okay? So there's no need to fear anymore."

He smiled when Elizabeth reached out for him. He took her hand and gave it a squeeze while he brushed her hair away from her face.

"You just relax and get some sleep and we'll be in to check on you," he said, softly.

He glanced up when Rose and Jenny came over to him and smiled down at her. He pulled the covers up even more until they were just below her neck.

"You're a cutie, you know that?" Alan said. "Don't let anyone tell you differently."

He finally got a smile out of her when he pinched her nose. He leaned over and kissed her temple.

"Night, night, Elizabeth," he said to her.

He stood up and the three of them slowly walked out the door. They glanced back. Elizabeth was watching them quietly. They all went outside and Alan closed the door behind them.

"Okay, who has first shift?" Alan said softly.

"I'll do it, Uncle Alan," Jenny said.

"Okay, in the meantime, Rose and I will find a pub after we've gotten their mother back in here and gotten her wrapped and dressed for cremation. If you need any help, think to us and we'll come back and help, alright?"

Jenny nodded. Alan sighed and glanced at Rose.

"Let's go get mum then," he said to her.